When news emerged recently that plaintiff Henry Wolf of San Francisco was suing BMW America due to claims that his ride on one of their motorcycles in 2010 gave him an erection for almost two years after a four-hour ride, purveyors of common sense ran wild. The libertarians decried it as a case of frivolous lawsuits. Comment section wags on the news websites that so breathlessly reported on the case went double-entendre crazy. And the motorcycle enthusiasts chimed in with their considerable wisdom. "I woulda wrote a thank-you letter!" "Hell, I'd take a BMW K1300R over a Viagra anytime." "Does anybody know if the plaintiff wants to sell the seat?"

The complaint itself was fairly straight-forward in its strangeness. It also names aftermarket motorcycle seat maker Corbin-Pacific in the suit.

"Plaintiff was riding his 1993 BMW motorcycle equipped with a Corbin-Pacific seat. The ride lasted approximately two hours each way to plaintiff's destination, after which plaintiff developed a severe case of priapism (a persistent, lasting erection). Plaintiff alleges that this condition was caused by the ridge-like seat on his motorcycle, negligently designed, manufactured and/or installed by defendants.

"Plaintiff now suffers from priapism (a long lasting erection), and has been experiencing continuing problems since his motorcycle ride. He is now unable to engage in sexual activity, which is causing him substantial emotional and mental anguish. Plaintiff is distraught and distressed because of this. Defendants, and each of them, are liable to plaintiff due [to] their negligent design, manufacture and/or installation of the seat on plaintiff's motorcycle."